Women's Christian Temperance Union

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7296, 5 August 1930, Page 9

Women's Christian Temperance Union

The monthly meeting of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union was held on Friday aftornpon in St. Andrew’s 'Memorial hall, the president (Mrs. C. A. E. Ferguson) being in the chair. An apology for absence was received fr.om Miss Overton. The hostesses for the afternoon were Mcsdames J. O. Boniface and S. Sorenson, and Miss Astbury. Mrs. W. Ritchie conducted devotional exercises and gave the scientific fact for the day. On behalf of those present, Mrs. Collins voiced a hearty welcome to the president on her return from a long holiday in Tonga. Items which added considerably to the success of the afternoon were contributed by Miss D. Ferguson (recitation) and Mrs. E. Wyld (song). Sympathetic reference was made by the president to the passing of Mrs. F. Kensington, who had always been a loyal supporter of the union. A motion of sympathy with her family was passed, members standing for a moment in silence. The speaker for the day was Mrs. G. T. Brown, who commenced her address by stressing the great need for education as to the harmful effects of alcohol on tho human body. Continuing, the speaker said that God had spoken to •women when He said: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon you, because He hath sent you to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that arc bound.” Much of the noble work done in tho world had seemed at first to suffer defeat. Jesus Himself did not appear to succeed at first. He was unrecognised by those in power and had to light vested interests hi the temple itself. But Ho was never discouraged; no one had over been so optimistic as He. It was usually the darkest hour that preceded the dawn. Social waifs in London had sunk to terrible straits before their rescue was begun by Dr. Barnardo. Prisoners had become wild and savage before prison reform was commenced by Elizaboth Fry. A governor of Newgate had said of tho women prisoners there that they were so wild and ferocious that no one cared to go in to them. Mrs. Fry, however, was not afraid to go amongst them and, by reading to them, forming sewing classes and caring for their children, she had been able to work wonders. When people realised the situation in New Zealand, the great reform of prohibition would como about. • A vote of thanks was accorded Mrs. Brown for her encouraging and helpful remarks, and the pronouncing of tho Benediction brought to a close a bright and successful meeting.